DT Jordan Phillips Highlights
- Thread starter DOLFANMIKE
- Start date
hoops
Tua time!
Heavy handed 1 or 3 makes sense to me. Pretty good at the poa on these clips at least. Better lateral range than I expected although kinda straight line with it. Pass rush looks mostly bull and the occasional spin.
I can see it in the rotation.
I can see it in the rotation.
Last edited:
Arm length and low body flexibility are the concerns for me. Over the last 3 years (25 DTs) he had the worst 3-cone of all participants. That stiffness shows up on tape. His jumps and shuttles were good but 3-cone is the one agility drill i like for COD bc it's the only nonlinear drill. He gets past the OL but then can't breakdown/redirect to get the QB. That's why his stats are absent of sacks and TFLs.
He has some impressive reps, winning with violent hands and causing pressure/disruption....so there are things to like, especially when you consider his age and the work ethic/leadership labels. But for every rep where he wins with violent hands or a quick swim, there's a rep where he ends up 4 yards downfield in the run game. A lot of reps in-between are stalemates, where the OL wins early and Phillips can't disengage bc of his length. Eventually he does with violent hand swipes but the play is gone.
I heard the Iowa game referenced by Louis Riddick, who's actually one of my favorite listens during Draft telecasts, and he's not wrong....Phillips had 8 tackles. That's crazy for a DT. A deeper dive though tells other things. Those 8 tackles were 28% of his production for the entire season. Iowa ran the ball 54 times for 270 yards and only threw 14 times That Iowa OL dominated Maryland's DL and i saw several plays with Phillips pushed 4 yards downfield...one long TD run he got absolutely washed. I haven't found a full game replay yet so i could only look at so many plays. I saw some similar good/bad on other reels (not full games). I hate highlight reels bc they only show good. For me, what separates good/great players from average/bad is limiting bad plays. You won't be on a roster long if your bad happens as often as your good. You need the bad to be stalemates, not washouts.
The 5th round is when you take chances on guys like Phillips....strong as an ox, violent hands, young, former wrestler. Many R5+ goes don't make the roster anyway. So in a vacuum, the pick makes sense AND shows value. In most drafts, i'd probably be happy about it. My only issue with it this year is we went 100 picks with nothing, with good quality players coming off....and instead of using the Day 3 ammo and jumping to get a really good DT (if you wanted to fill that roster gap), Grier waited for the 21st DT off the board....talented, but boom/bust. I personally had higher ratings on other guys (DTs before us, other positions after). Grier moves for some guys when it doesn't always seems necessary or "valued" but then not others. It's just where him and i differ. I protect Day 1/2 picks bc i see those as starters and only use to trade up for elite talent. Day 3 i package picks (if necessary) to get guys i saw as Day 2 grades.
Very true. You see it come into play also when defending zone blocking, struggles to mirror down the line a bit.
He struggles most against wide zone/stretch run plays.
He's a straight forward player....which matches his jump explosion.
Exactly. But like you said, really like the pick in the 5th. And who knows at 20-21 there’s still room for ROM increases
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2006
- Messages
- 1,874
- Reaction score
- 3,020
PFF favorite pick for each team:
MIAMI DOLPHINS: DI JORDAN PHILLIPS (ROUND 5, PICK 143)
Phillips might just be an early-down defender, but he’s a good one with a 7.6% solo run-stop rate in 2024. The former high school weightlifter and wrestler is strong as an ox with good natural leverage to potentially anchor the middle of Miami's defense.
Ray R
Club Member
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2006
- Messages
- 1,874
- Reaction score
- 3,020
Some positive reaction on Phillips:
On NFL Network’s "Path to the Draft," a panel of four, including host Rhett Lewis, conducted a segment called “Mid-Round Gems.”
Draft analysts Bucky Brooks (CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State/Bucs), Mark Ross (EDGE Landon Jackson, Arkansas/Bills) and Lance Zierlein (LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma/Saints) each made their selections before Lewis, a former wide receiver at Indiana, chimed in on Phillips, the second of three defensive tackles Miami selected in the 2025 draft.
“The Miami Dolphins had to get bigger and more stout up front on the defensive line,” Lewis said. “Boy, did they do that when they got (first-round pick) Kenneth Grant. But my ‘mid-round gem,’ is fifth-rounder Jordan Phillips, who’s built like an oak tree in the lower half. They had to keep buying new (blocking) sleds at Maryland because he kept breaking them.”
We’ve been unable to verify any stories about Phillips breaking blocking sleds, but his strength is well documented. Ranked 51st on Bruce Feldman of The Athletic’s “2024 Freak List, Phillips reportedly squats 665 pounds, power-cleans 365 pounds and overhead-pressed 365 pounds for two reps.
Of the four players noted in the piece, Phillips was the only one drafted as low as the fifth round. Jackson (pick 72) and Parrish (pick 84) both were selected in the third round, while Stutsman was pick 112 overall (4th round). Phillips was selected with pick 143 overall.
YOUNG BULL, YOUNG LEADER
Phillips, who played three games at Tennessee as a freshman before transferring to Maryland, is known to be a mature player, especially at just 20 years old.
Lewis commented in the NFL Network spot on what he’s heard about Phillips as a teammate.
“He has great work ethic,” Lewis said. “Tremendous commitment to the team and the program that he is with and he will bring that to (Miami).”
Phillips notably was named the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award at the 2025 Shrine Bowl. The award annually recognizes a player who embodies character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service, recognizing their impact on and off the field.
On NFL Network’s "Path to the Draft," a panel of four, including host Rhett Lewis, conducted a segment called “Mid-Round Gems.”
Draft analysts Bucky Brooks (CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State/Bucs), Mark Ross (EDGE Landon Jackson, Arkansas/Bills) and Lance Zierlein (LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma/Saints) each made their selections before Lewis, a former wide receiver at Indiana, chimed in on Phillips, the second of three defensive tackles Miami selected in the 2025 draft.
“The Miami Dolphins had to get bigger and more stout up front on the defensive line,” Lewis said. “Boy, did they do that when they got (first-round pick) Kenneth Grant. But my ‘mid-round gem,’ is fifth-rounder Jordan Phillips, who’s built like an oak tree in the lower half. They had to keep buying new (blocking) sleds at Maryland because he kept breaking them.”
We’ve been unable to verify any stories about Phillips breaking blocking sleds, but his strength is well documented. Ranked 51st on Bruce Feldman of The Athletic’s “2024 Freak List, Phillips reportedly squats 665 pounds, power-cleans 365 pounds and overhead-pressed 365 pounds for two reps.
Of the four players noted in the piece, Phillips was the only one drafted as low as the fifth round. Jackson (pick 72) and Parrish (pick 84) both were selected in the third round, while Stutsman was pick 112 overall (4th round). Phillips was selected with pick 143 overall.
YOUNG BULL, YOUNG LEADER
Phillips, who played three games at Tennessee as a freshman before transferring to Maryland, is known to be a mature player, especially at just 20 years old.
Lewis commented in the NFL Network spot on what he’s heard about Phillips as a teammate.
“He has great work ethic,” Lewis said. “Tremendous commitment to the team and the program that he is with and he will bring that to (Miami).”
Phillips notably was named the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award at the 2025 Shrine Bowl. The award annually recognizes a player who embodies character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service, recognizing their impact on and off the field.
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2006
- Messages
- 1,874
- Reaction score
- 3,020
Dane Brugler had him 16th best DT, we got great value with this guy
A two-year starter at Maryland, Phillips was an interchangeable defensive tackle in defensive coordinator Brian Williams’ hybrid fronts, lining up everywhere from head-up nose to five-technique (mostly in a frog stance). After one season in Knoxville, he transferred to Maryland and showed noticeable promise, despite remarkably low production (2.5 tackles for loss and zero sacks over 23 starts).
A toolsy prospect, Phillips jumps off the film with his light feet, explosive movements and heavy hands. Though it is encouraging that he is one of the youngest players in the draft class, his inexperience jumps off the film — he’s often neutralized and off balance, especially when he is late off the ball. Overall, Phillips is a dancing bear with big-man twitch and commanding power, but his immense talent needs to be unlocked by more mature timing and technique. Although he will need time, he has the traits and work ethic to become a rotational nose with the upside of an NFL starter.
GRADE3rd–4th Round
Testing
TYPE HT WT HAND ARM WING 40 20 10 VJ BJ SS 3C BP NOTES
Combine 6015 312 93/4″ 311/2″ 791/8″ DNP DNP DNP 31″ 9′0″ 4.65 8.19 29 No 40 (choice)
Pro Day 6015 313 10″ 32″ 811/4″ DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 7.65 DNP
Strengths
Muscled-up, compact frame with meaty thighs and hips
Heavy hands to jolt blockers off balance
Explosive out of his stance and has short-area movements to win gaps
Plays loose with body control to work laterally and patch together his moves
Effective rip and swim moves when given one-on-one opportunities (dominated East-West Shrine Bowl practices)
Strong finisher as tackler
Played a healthy number of defensive snaps each game (44.8)
“Freaks List” alum (has squatted 665 pounds, power cleaned 365 and done two reps of 365 on overhead press)
Known for legendary work ethic in the program and set a high bar
Charismatic and personable off the field but flips mean switch on the field
Weaknesses
Inconsistent snap timing; often driven backwards when late off the ball
Late to anticipate/read blocking angles, which leaves him swallowed up
Needs to put up a better fight to split doubles (see 2024 Iowa tape)
Lacks ideal arm length and struggles to lock out and effectively peek-a-boo the runner
Delivers jarring blows to reset line of scrimmage but needs to continue that push into the quarterback
Needs to develop a Plan B, C and D when his initial rush attack is neutralized
Basement-level backfield production
Background
Jordan Phillips, the youngest of three children (two boys, one girl), was born and raised in Orlando, Fla., with his mother. He started football at age 6 and played running back and defensive line, but his mother pulled him from the sport because she was afraid he would get hurt (Phillips: “Understandably, she wanted to protect her babies.”). Phillips picked up basketball and joined a swimming and diving team, but all along, he was hoping to return to football. At age 10, he finally convinced his mother to sign him back up, although he was forced to play with 12- and 13-year-olds because of his size.
Phillips initially attended Olympia High in Orlando as a freshman before transferring to Ocoee High for his final three years. After a modest sophomore season (16 tackles, one sack), he had a breakout junior year with 71 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles in only eight games during a pandemic-shortened 2020 season. As a senior, Phillips earned third-team all-state honors (56 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and one forced fumble) and added three rushing touchdowns as a goal-line wildcat quarterback. Phillips joined the wrestling team as a freshman to stay conditioned for football and won the JV Metros in his first year. As a junior, he finished runner-up at the 3A regional tournament and qualified for the state tournament. Phillips was also on the weightlifting team and had personal bests of 365 pounds in the clean and jerk and 345 in the bench press.
A three-star recruit, Phillips was the 91st-ranked defensive lineman in the 2022 recruiting class and the No. 88 recruit in Florida. He received his first offers as a sophomore from Miami, Missouri and Pittsburgh. After his breakout junior season, his recruitment skyrocketed with offers from Georgia, Michigan, Penn State and UCF. The summer before his senior season, Phillips received an offer from Tennessee and took multiple visits to Knoxville with his mother, a Memphis native. He committed to the Volunteers in July 2021 and was the eighth-ranked recruit in head coach Josh Heupel’s 2022 class (one spot behind running back Dylan Sampson).
After one season with the Vols, Phillips entered the transfer portal (Dec. 2022) and signed with Maryland. After two seasons with the Terrapins, he elected to skip his final two seasons of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft. Phillips accepted his invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
A two-year starter at Maryland, Phillips was an interchangeable defensive tackle in defensive coordinator Brian Williams’ hybrid fronts, lining up everywhere from head-up nose to five-technique (mostly in a frog stance). After one season in Knoxville, he transferred to Maryland and showed noticeable promise, despite remarkably low production (2.5 tackles for loss and zero sacks over 23 starts).
A toolsy prospect, Phillips jumps off the film with his light feet, explosive movements and heavy hands. Though it is encouraging that he is one of the youngest players in the draft class, his inexperience jumps off the film — he’s often neutralized and off balance, especially when he is late off the ball. Overall, Phillips is a dancing bear with big-man twitch and commanding power, but his immense talent needs to be unlocked by more mature timing and technique. Although he will need time, he has the traits and work ethic to become a rotational nose with the upside of an NFL starter.
GRADE3rd–4th Round
Testing
TYPE HT WT HAND ARM WING 40 20 10 VJ BJ SS 3C BP NOTES
Combine 6015 312 93/4″ 311/2″ 791/8″ DNP DNP DNP 31″ 9′0″ 4.65 8.19 29 No 40 (choice)
Pro Day 6015 313 10″ 32″ 811/4″ DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 7.65 DNP
Strengths
Muscled-up, compact frame with meaty thighs and hips
Heavy hands to jolt blockers off balance
Explosive out of his stance and has short-area movements to win gaps
Plays loose with body control to work laterally and patch together his moves
Effective rip and swim moves when given one-on-one opportunities (dominated East-West Shrine Bowl practices)
Strong finisher as tackler
Played a healthy number of defensive snaps each game (44.8)
“Freaks List” alum (has squatted 665 pounds, power cleaned 365 and done two reps of 365 on overhead press)
Known for legendary work ethic in the program and set a high bar
Charismatic and personable off the field but flips mean switch on the field
Weaknesses
Inconsistent snap timing; often driven backwards when late off the ball
Late to anticipate/read blocking angles, which leaves him swallowed up
Needs to put up a better fight to split doubles (see 2024 Iowa tape)
Lacks ideal arm length and struggles to lock out and effectively peek-a-boo the runner
Delivers jarring blows to reset line of scrimmage but needs to continue that push into the quarterback
Needs to develop a Plan B, C and D when his initial rush attack is neutralized
Basement-level backfield production
Background
Jordan Phillips, the youngest of three children (two boys, one girl), was born and raised in Orlando, Fla., with his mother. He started football at age 6 and played running back and defensive line, but his mother pulled him from the sport because she was afraid he would get hurt (Phillips: “Understandably, she wanted to protect her babies.”). Phillips picked up basketball and joined a swimming and diving team, but all along, he was hoping to return to football. At age 10, he finally convinced his mother to sign him back up, although he was forced to play with 12- and 13-year-olds because of his size.
Phillips initially attended Olympia High in Orlando as a freshman before transferring to Ocoee High for his final three years. After a modest sophomore season (16 tackles, one sack), he had a breakout junior year with 71 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles in only eight games during a pandemic-shortened 2020 season. As a senior, Phillips earned third-team all-state honors (56 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and one forced fumble) and added three rushing touchdowns as a goal-line wildcat quarterback. Phillips joined the wrestling team as a freshman to stay conditioned for football and won the JV Metros in his first year. As a junior, he finished runner-up at the 3A regional tournament and qualified for the state tournament. Phillips was also on the weightlifting team and had personal bests of 365 pounds in the clean and jerk and 345 in the bench press.
A three-star recruit, Phillips was the 91st-ranked defensive lineman in the 2022 recruiting class and the No. 88 recruit in Florida. He received his first offers as a sophomore from Miami, Missouri and Pittsburgh. After his breakout junior season, his recruitment skyrocketed with offers from Georgia, Michigan, Penn State and UCF. The summer before his senior season, Phillips received an offer from Tennessee and took multiple visits to Knoxville with his mother, a Memphis native. He committed to the Volunteers in July 2021 and was the eighth-ranked recruit in head coach Josh Heupel’s 2022 class (one spot behind running back Dylan Sampson).
After one season with the Vols, Phillips entered the transfer portal (Dec. 2022) and signed with Maryland. After two seasons with the Terrapins, he elected to skip his final two seasons of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft. Phillips accepted his invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
He was then the 21st DT taken, so apparently a bargain.
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2006
- Messages
- 1,874
- Reaction score
- 3,020
PFF also had him 94th on their big board and rated him our best value pick.
Really think he’s gonna be our next great 5th round defensive draft pick after the likes of Zach Thomas Reshad Jones AVG etc. The 5th round seems to be our sweet spot for drafting good defensive players.
I've noticed that for years. Bryan Cox was a 5, too. Immediately, a rookie starter, as was ZT. Also, a rookie starter was C Jeff Uhlenhake, 1989. Shane Burton was a 5, right ahead of Zach, and he played 125 games in the league.
Two 5s who kind of got away were G Chris Gray, who left after 3 seasons but played 208 games in the league, mostly with Seattle. Norman Hand, Bowens' line mate from Ole Miss, made his bones elsewhere, too. S Arturo Freeman played over 70 games and was a part-time starter during the early oughts. Donald Lee was a good TE who played 133 games, but mostly with GB. Another good player we let get away. S Chris Clemons was a multi-year starter and IMO, was underrated. Nolan Carroll, the CB from the Ginn trade, also started for a while for us. Bobby McCain, another multi-year starting S, and Jay Ajayi gave us one year or so of excitement. Tony Lippett looked early on like he'd be a starting corner, but got hurt and never came back. Davon Godchaux was a workmanlike starter for 4 years or so, but left in free agency, and is still playing. Kamara last year could still show something. I liked the pick when it was made.